It may have been the most heartwarming narrative of College Football Saturday — a story not centered on touchdowns or highlight reels, but on bravery, redemption, and unwavering faith. On a day when titans dominated the field, the smallest player present — weighing merely 143 pounds — showcased one of the season’s most impactful performances.
His name is Alex McPherson, the kicker for Auburn University, and his transition from a hospital bed to the spotlight of a hero is one of those exceptional tales that remind us of the true essence of sports — not merely for the score, but for the spirit.
Fifteen months prior, Alex’s life was unraveling. He wasn’t contending for a spot on the roster or a championship — he was battling for his life. A diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, a serious inflammatory bowel disease, had devastated his health and future. His weight plummeted to 110 pounds, his body weakened, and his career was hanging by a thread. The kicker who once never missed a field goal could barely manage to walk across a room.
Medical professionals at UAB Hospital worked tirelessly to save him. By last December, only one option remained — surgery. Every inch of Alex’s large intestine was removed. He awoke from the procedure with an ileostomy bag, his body permanently changed, and his football aspirations seemingly dashed.
But Alex McPherson was not done yet.
He embarked on a slow, painful recovery. There were days when simply getting out of bed felt like an act of faith. His body needed to rebuild, his mind required healing, and his spirit — though tested — remained unyielding. “I just kept telling myself that God wasn’t done with me yet,” he later shared.
This season became his mission to demonstrate that faith and perseverance could transform any narrative. Each week, he grew stronger — not just physically, but in determination. Every kick during practice was a step away from pain and a stride toward purpose.
Then came last weekend’s setback. Against Missouri, Alex missed three field goals. For most athletes, that would sting. For Alex, it was heartbreaking. Not only because of the score, but because he had fought so hard to return to that field.
The next Monday morning, before anyone else arrived, Alex walked directly into Coach Hugh Freeze’s office. “He was the first one there,” Freeze recalled. “He said, ‘I’m sorry, Coach. I lost that game for you.’
Freeze looked at him and saw something beyond disappointment. He saw heart. “I told him, ‘Dude, I believe in you. You’re going to make the next one.’
And that’s precisely what happened.
Yesterday, beneath overcast Arkansas skies, Alex McPherson delivered a performance for the ages. He achieved a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals, tying the Auburn school record — each kick executed cleanly, confidently, and fearlessly. Each time the ball sailed through the uprights, Alex pointed toward Heaven, just as he had the week prior when he missed.
For Alex, the act of praising isn’t about the result. It’s about gratitude — in both victory and defeat.
His subtle gesture did not go unnoticed, especially by one of his most vocal critics.
Days earlier, Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports and a prominent voice on social media, had ridiculed Alex online for pointing skyward after missing his kicks against Missouri. “You shouldn’t be allowed to pretend you hit a FG when you missed your 19th chip shot of the game,” Portnoy tweeted to millions.
It was the kind of cheap shot that spreads quickly — criticism from behind a keyboard aimed at a 21-year-old athlete still learning how to breathe again after nearly dying a year earlier.
But Alex never reacted. He didn’t retaliate. He didn’t complain. He simply returned to work.
After his record-tying game, reporters inquired if he had seen the criticism. Alex smiled gently and replied:
“All I’m gonna say is I praise the Lord whenever I miss and whenever I make. You praise Him in the highs as well as the lows. That’s what I’m going to continue to do. He’s the reason I’m back on that field.”
No bitterness. No anger. Just grace.
The kicker who had once been too frail to stand had just stood taller than anyone on the field.
Coach Freeze, his voice filled with pride, referred to it as “a redemption story.” “He’s been through more than most of us can imagine,” he said. “For him to come out here and do this — it’s a reminder that faith doesn’t just survive hard times; it shines through them.”
And shine, Alex did.
It wasn’t merely a comeback — it was a sermon in motion, conveyed through sweat, pain, and the swing of a determined leg. It was evidence that true victory isn’t found in perfection but in perseverance.
What made his story even more extraordinary was that Alex accomplished it all while wearing his ileostomy bag — a symbol of both his struggle and his resilience. To witness him kick was to observe a young man who had already defied every odd that life could present.
For the fans in the stands and the millions who witnessed his story online, Alex’s moment transcended football. It became a lesson in humility, bravery, and steadfast faith.
It’s easy to celebrate athletes when they win. It’s more challenging to recognize their humanity when they falter. Alex’s story serves as a reminder that character isn’t forged in victory — it’s revealed in how we rise after falling.
So yes, I hope Dave Portnoy noticed Alex’s response. I hope everyone who criticized him last week paused to reflect.
Because Alex McPherson didn’t just redeem himself on the field — he reminded the world that grace speaks louder than criticism, and faith shines brightest in adversity.
Perhaps we can all take a lesson from that.
When life presents us with loss, when the world doubts us, when the storm feels too heavy to bear — maybe we, too, can learn to lift our heads and say, “I’ll praise Him in the highs and in the lows.”
Wouldn’t it be remarkable if we all did?
